President of the Senate, Senator David Mark has sent a message of solidarity to the Nigerian workers urging them to uphold the indomitable spirit and resilience that have propelled the nation to greatness.
Senator Mark in the solidarity message to mark the workers’ day in Abuja , urged them to sustain the hands that produces the wealth of the nation just as he told employers of labour to reciprocate through improved welfare.
According to Mark, ” on this day as always , I salute the indomitable spirit of the Nigerian worker. I commend your resilience and steadfastness that have kept the nation alive.
” I am to remind you to always make productivity the cornerstone at all times. That way, you will be contributing to the survival of the nation .
“To this end, I earnestly request that we review our strategies and penchant or resort to industrial action at will. I am convinced that dialogue remains the best road map towards resolving any disagreement no matter how complicated.
” Resort to strike action always carry far reaching political and economic consequences that unarguably retard growth.
” As a people, we must think otherwise in the interest of our nation. Development can only be achieved if labour and employers work along the same line.
” What ever we can do or contribute individually or collectively to make Nigeria a better place should as a matter of necessity be our goal and mission”.
He promised that the National Assembly will continue to legislate in a manner that would create enabling environment for workers to prosper.
Comrade Ayuba Wabba who was recently elected as President of NLC under yet to be resolved controversial circumstances said in his address, noted “ this is the very first May Day since Nigerian workers at the 11th Delegates Conference freely gave me and my colleagues their mandate to lead the Congress for the next four years. We would like to therefore use this opportunity to appreciate their unshaken confidence in our capacity to be in the forefront of the struggle for better working conditions and the common good for all. As President of the Congress, I hereby, on behalf of my colleagues in the leadership of NLC, reaffirm to Nigerian workers that we will remain faithful to the trust placed in us by an astute implementation of our “Redemption Programmes” upon which we were considered better candidates, and the resolutions arrived at by Congress-in-Session.
“The second reason that makes this year’s May Day unique is the fact that it is coming just a few weeks after the historic 2015 General Elections. As we all know, in the run-up to the 2015 elections, there was palpable apprehension arising from the gloomy prophesy that Nigeria was set for disintegration come 2015. It was therefore a great relief to Nigerians that the elections were not only relatively peaceful, but profoundly historical in outcome. This being so because it is the first time in the political history of the country when an opposition party displaced a ruling party from power in a democratic contest.
“The third factor which makes this year’s May Day highly significant to Nigerian workers, and which is directly linked with the above, is the demonstrable sportsmanship of President Goodluck Jonathan and the magnanimity of the President-Elect, General Muhammadu Buhari at the end of the Presidential Elections. As an organisation with proud democratic roots, we are not in doubt of the positive impact the statesmanlike attitude of Mr. President will make in the consolidation of democracy in Nigeria. In about four weeks from now, Nigerians will for the first time in the history of the nation witness a smooth transition of power from an incumbent President of a political party to another President elected on the platform of an opposition platform. While Nigerians remain the greatest heroes in the peaceful and civil manner in which they participated in the electoral process by ensuring that their votes counted, we commend both Mr. President and Mr. President-Elect because the manner in which they conducted themselves has greatly contributed in stabilizing the polity in the context of the apprehension during the electioneering period. Ultimately, it was Nigeria that won the 2015 general elections.
“As strong advocates of democratic culture and good governance, we are confident that the decisive role of the people in the emergence of the incoming political leadership of the country has restored some level of hope that the future of our country is no longer as bleak as it was a couple of years back. Beginning from May 29, 2015, all elected political officers must sit up to their responsibilities of providing good governance as the lessons of March 28, 2015 have sufficiently educated all Nigerians that the era of impunity is over and that those with popular mandates to lead must exercise those mandates for the good of all or they will be voted out of office.
Comrade Joe Ajaero ,president of the breakaway faction of NLC in his address expressed “special greetings to both the outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan and General Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd), the newly democratically President-Elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Organized labour appreciated their mutual statesmanhip and patriotism, avoidance of despair and unhelpful negative triumphalism after the historic free and fair 2015 Presidential Elections commendably conducted by Professor Attahiru Jega led INEC.
“Like other Nigerians, working people look forward with excitement to the swearing in of General Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd), GCFR as the 4th democratically elected President on May 29th. The President elect must consolidate on the positive labour market policies of President Jonathan and correct the negative measures. Apart from endemic corruption, the greatest task at hand is the urgent need to transform oil dependent-economy to a diversified industrialized economy.
“As we celebrate the dignity of labour, we also salute all incumbent and incoming governors, legislators and other political office holders. We express our deep sense of gratitude to our distinguished guests for sparing time and every other thing to be part of this great occasion
Also, former Governor of Abia State Dr. Orji Kalu has commended the labour force worldwide for their sacrifice towards national and global development.
He acknowledged the role of workers in economic and political developments of any nation, describing them as a key partner in the development process.
Kalu in a goodwill message signed by his Special Adviser, Kunle Oyewumi said: “I wish to congratulate the labour force on the celebration of 2015 Workers’ ay. It is a special day to celebrate and appreciate selfless efforts of the labour force towards global economic development. The labour community remains a major determinant of the well being of any country . I urge workers to remain steadfast, committed and passionate in their various responsibilities so as to make the world a better place for everyone. Again, I salute and wish workers a fruitful celebration”.
The former governor urged government at all levels to make workers’ welfare a priority in their decisions.
According to him, workers will be more productive if employers support and motivate them in all ramifications.
Kalu charged workers in the private and public sectors in Nigeria to support the incoming federal administration.
